Published: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 11:28 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 11:28 a.m.

A motorcycle accident nearly took the life of Hershel Waters in February when he hit a set of railroad tracks and lost control of his bike.

Facts

How to help

A fundraiser for the Fire Rescue Support program will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 19, through Saturday, May 25, at Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins locations in Marion County, during which 10 percent of purchases (before taxes) will be donated.

For more information or to make separate donations, visit www.firerescuesupport.com or call 425-1643.

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A Marion County Fire Rescue team in Citra responded to the scene within minutes. On Wednesday, Waters made a visit to Fire Rescue Station 19 inn Sparr to thank the crew for their quick response.

"I'm a critical care paramedic," Waters said. "Because I'm in the field myself, I know thanks do go a long way. I really do have them to thank for saving my life."

While it is uncommon for people to actually set up a thank-you meeting with emergency personnel, it is possible for citizens to show their appreciation through a local nonprofit organization, Fire Rescue Support. Started by Marion County Fire Rescue Chaplain Joe LaCognata on Sept. 11, 2011, the organization reaches out to fire rescue units in Marion County, Ocala and Dunnellon.

LaCognata, a former high school principal in Illinois and currently assistant pastor at Church at the Springs in Ocala, said he has been volunteering with emergency medical services for nearly 30 years and felt a support system was desperately needed.

"For me, the chaplaincy is kind of the dot between the fire service and the ministry," LaCognata said. "The Springs is a large church, and Marion County is broad. I knew doing both of those was going to be challenging. Because of the size of those organizations, it was going to take more than a couple hours work. We were going to need more of a support base."

With May 19-25 designated as National EMS Week, communities across the nation will be reminded to support health care professionals. The weeklong recognition is themed "One Mission, One Team." In Marion County, Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins stores will be raising funds for Fire Rescue Support by contributing 10 percent of sales from 4 to 9 p.m. those seven days, during which area firefighters, EMTs and paramedics will be scooping ice cream and serving coffee.

A portion of the donations will go toward the purchase of water, snacks and other items, such as coloring books and crayons, to give to children at emergency scenes, LaCognata said.

"We want to make it so it never would cost anything to do the work," he said.

LaCognata believes Fire Rescue Support also will help cut down on the level of stress experienced by emergency personnel.

"The most significant thing in Marion County was the fire in Citra, when five children died," LaCognata said. "That probably would be the single most intense incident that affected our people. But, what the public doesn't understand, (is that) in less dramatic ways, these people deal with this every day. It may not be five children that died. It may be the 1-year-old that stopped breathing during the night."

Marion County Fire Rescue has 32 stations and more than 500 firefighters, said Jessica Geene, public information officer for Marion County Fire Rescue.

"This is such a big organization; what Joe does is infiltrate the whole organization," Greene said. "Every day, they're out there, saving lives and doing amazing things. The service that Joe provides to fire rescue crew members and other first responders is just very special. It means a lot to the guys and girls that deal with things on a daily basis."

Lt. Scott Chappell said a peer support system already exists with his crew at Station 17 in Silver Springs Shores. They know each other's wives and children and, every six weeks or so, they do something fun as a group. He referred to Fire Rescue Support as "fantastic."

"With Joe, we have someone inside the fire department who is able to be there whenever we need them," Chappell said. "We go to fires, and if the house burns down, Joe acts as a liaison. He can slide in to help with the transition."

LaCognata also offers emergency workers a PowerPoint presentation that addresses job-related stress and how to be prepared before an emergency.

"It's sort of like getting an immunization," LaCognata said. "The profession can cause havoc in their lives. My goal is helping them have a wonderful career, loving their job, making a difference and still having a life."

Future plans include the possibility of an adopt-a-station program. Also, LaCognata recently met at the Florida State Fire College with other chaplains from across the state. He is hoping the local program will serve as a model for similar support groups throughout the country.

<p>A motorcycle accident nearly took the life of Hershel Waters in February when he hit a set of railroad tracks and lost control of his bike.</p><p>"I smacked into a tree head-on," Waters said. "I was unconscious. Apparently, I was not breathing. My helmet actually saved my life."</p><p>A Marion County Fire Rescue team in Citra responded to the scene within minutes. On Wednesday, Waters made a visit to Fire Rescue Station 19 inn Sparr to thank the crew for their quick response.</p><p>"I'm a critical care paramedic," Waters said. "Because I'm in the field myself, I know thanks do go a long way. I really do have them to thank for saving my life."</p><p>While it is uncommon for people to actually set up a thank-you meeting with emergency personnel, it is possible for citizens to show their appreciation through a local nonprofit organization, Fire Rescue Support. Started by Marion County Fire Rescue Chaplain Joe LaCognata on Sept. 11, 2011, the organization reaches out to fire rescue units in Marion County, Ocala and Dunnellon.</p><p>LaCognata, a former high school principal in Illinois and currently assistant pastor at Church at the Springs in Ocala, said he has been volunteering with emergency medical services for nearly 30 years and felt a support system was desperately needed.</p><p>"For me, the chaplaincy is kind of the dot between the fire service and the ministry," LaCognata said. "The Springs is a large church, and Marion County is broad. I knew doing both of those was going to be challenging. Because of the size of those organizations, it was going to take more than a couple hours work. We were going to need more of a support base."</p><p>With May 19-25 designated as National EMS Week, communities across the nation will be reminded to support health care professionals. The weeklong recognition is themed "One Mission, One Team." In Marion County, Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins stores will be raising funds for Fire Rescue Support by contributing 10 percent of sales from 4 to 9 p.m. those seven days, during which area firefighters, EMTs and paramedics will be scooping ice cream and serving coffee.</p><p>A portion of the donations will go toward the purchase of water, snacks and other items, such as coloring books and crayons, to give to children at emergency scenes, LaCognata said.</p><p>"We want to make it so it never would cost anything to do the work," he said.</p><p>LaCognata believes Fire Rescue Support also will help cut down on the level of stress experienced by emergency personnel.</p><p>"The most significant thing in Marion County was the fire in Citra, when five children died," LaCognata said. "That probably would be the single most intense incident that affected our people. But, what the public doesn't understand, (is that) in less dramatic ways, these people deal with this every day. It may not be five children that died. It may be the 1-year-old that stopped breathing during the night."</p><p>Marion County Fire Rescue has 32 stations and more than 500 firefighters, said Jessica Geene, public information officer for Marion County Fire Rescue.</p><p>"This is such a big organization; what Joe does is infiltrate the whole organization," Greene said. "Every day, they're out there, saving lives and doing amazing things. The service that Joe provides to fire rescue crew members and other first responders is just very special. It means a lot to the guys and girls that deal with things on a daily basis."</p><p>Lt. Scott Chappell said a peer support system already exists with his crew at Station 17 in Silver Springs Shores. They know each other's wives and children and, every six weeks or so, they do something fun as a group. He referred to Fire Rescue Support as "fantastic."</p><p>"With Joe, we have someone inside the fire department who is able to be there whenever we need them," Chappell said. "We go to fires, and if the house burns down, Joe acts as a liaison. He can slide in to help with the transition."</p><p>LaCognata also offers emergency workers a PowerPoint presentation that addresses job-related stress and how to be prepared before an emergency.</p><p>"It's sort of like getting an immunization," LaCognata said. "The profession can cause havoc in their lives. My goal is helping them have a wonderful career, loving their job, making a difference and still having a life."</p><p>Future plans include the possibility of an adopt-a-station program. Also, LaCognata recently met at the Florida State Fire College with other chaplains from across the state. He is hoping the local program will serve as a model for similar support groups throughout the country.</p>